Machine for opening cans



March 17, 1925.

. 1,530,024 H. D. WASHBURN MACHINE Fon OPENING cANs FledUan. 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sh`eet l March 17, 1925.

` H. D. WASHBURN MACHINE FOR QPENI'NG (JANSl Filed 'Jam 19. -1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 CIK Patented Mar. 17, 192.5,

UNITED srares HENRY D. WASHBURN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR OPENING CANS.

Appiication filed January 19, 1923.l serial No. 613,745.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D.\VASHBURN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Opening Gans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for opening cans that is particularly adapted for household, club, and hotel use, or wherever canned foods and goods are extensively used.

An object of the .invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive machine which may be rapidly operated to entirely remove the cover or end of a can, such as food stuffs are packed in, by a cutting process.

It is a further object of the invention to produce a can opening machine that is capable of operating upon cans of various sizes, and which is so constructed that the usual manual adjustments necessary to acconnnodate the changes from one sized can to another are in the main eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to produce a. can opening machine wherein a can of any size, within the limits of the machine, may be placed therein and automatically centered, clamped, and punctured, and thereafter by a single rotary movement of the cutting tool remove the top end thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to produce a machine of this class wherein a single movement of the operator will suftice to unclampthe can and simultaneously reset the table and clamp for the next op.- eration.

A further object of the invention isto produce a machine of this class wherein'the cutting member comparativelyI looselyl mounted therein, and slidable by hand instantly in the desired direction to accommodate the size can to be opened.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a can opening machine wherein a minimum of manual operations has been attained to rapidly and etliciently open a can, and wherein the can and its support are stationary during the opening operationl and wherein the cutting tool is the only portion of the machine which requiresesp'ccial adjustment when the cans vary in size.

To the attainment `of the above objects the invention further consists in certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will' be fully understood from adescription of the drawings and the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents in front elevation one form of can opening machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 a view looking toward the left Figure 1. n i

Figure 3 a section on the line 3-3 Figure 1.-`

Figure 4 a detailed view of the cutting tool carrying arm showing the cutting tool and means to cause-adjustmentV thereof.

Figure 5 a section on the line -5-5 Figure 4. t

Figure 6 `is a diagrammatic plan view of a'portion of a can top indicating the preferred arrangement of the` cutting tool.

Figure 7 a section on the line 7 7' Figure '6.

Like characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. Y

Referring to the drawings: The drawings herewith illustrate a convenient form of can opening machine to describe the pres'- ent invention, but it will be understood that it is not the intention to limitthe invention to the precise construction and arrangement shown as it is obvious that various changes might be made therein without departing i from its spirit and scope. i

The present machine is shown` as being supported ona table or shelf 10 by means of the feet 11 rearwardly lextending `from and forming part of a bracket 12, which has thebosses 13 atfeachside thereof, sec Figures 1 and 2, in which` the rods 14tare guided in holes provided therefor. u

At their upper ends the rods 14 are joined by and fast with a yoke 15 having the boss 16 through which passes a spindle 1'1' forming part of the handlever 18, and to which The rods 1st and yoke 15 form a framen which may be impositively locked in elevated position by means of the springs /10 engaging,` the notches 41 of the rods 1% see Figure 1.

The bracket 12 is provided centrally thereof with a boss through which loosely passes the spindle or stud 21 fast with the can receiving,` table 22 built somewhat in the form of a cross, the side extensions of which are bifurcated as at 3ftostraddle the rods let and thereby restrain the table 22 from the tendency to revolve during` the can opening operation and Vyet permit the said table to move vertically.

The bosses 13 areso arrai'igred' to accommodate the pivot pins 24: to each of which is fast at each end thereof a bell crank clamp lever 25, the upper end ofeach of which has a clamp shoe 26 pivoted thereto, while the lower or .inner end engages the hub 2T of the table 22.

Springs 28 loosely surround the pins 2-1, each having an end fast with the bracket 12, and an end engaging its respective bell crank clamp lever as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2'.

Normally the clamp levers 2'5 will occupy approximately the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, with the collars 29 of the rods 1-/1 resting on the table 22, which protects the cutting tool and punch from contact with the table. l

To use the machine. the operator will grasp'the hand lever 1S and raise the yokeA 15 sufiiciently high to,l place a can on the supporting' table 22, centering it as near as thel eye will permit, and thereafter a downward thrust of the can either by hand or through lever 18 and yoke 15 will cause thetable 22 lo descend and force the clamp` levers 2'5 inwardly to contact with and center the can for the correct position to begin the cutting operation.

rllhe yoke 15 will now be further thrust downwardlyA through the grasp of the operator on the lever 181,y which action causes the table tov descend until the` shoes 2G complete the centering of the can and clamp it and thecenter punch 30v and the cutting' tool 31 to penetrate the end o-f the can and brings the'stop 32 ofthe member 19 in contact with the top edge ofthe can whiclrstop 32 performs the function of a top clamp for the can and which may be revolved while artiug as a clamp.

So far as the cutting tool 31 is concerned the cutting operation may now proceed, but it is advisable to guard against rotary movement of the can during the cuttingthereof, and, therefore further downward pressure will be given the lever 1S to cause the clamp shoes 26 to firmly grip the can, and prevent such movement. While depressed, the said lever will be given a complete rotation which will make a ycut around the can approximately parallel to the periphery thereof, and preferably close thereto, and will cause a circular disk to be cut from the can top.

Pressureon the lever 18 will now be removed andan upward pull thereon will'raise the cutting tool 31 and punch 30 which are at this time in close enga-gement with the cut out disk carrying it with them and freeing` it from the can. Simultaneously with this movement the clamp levers will release the can so that it may be removed from the table 22, when the table and clamp levers will assume approximately the dotted line positions thereof shown in Figure 1.

If desired a friction pad 35 such as emery cloth or the like may be used to aid in preventing-rotary move-ment to the can during il t-he cutting operation.

A feature of ythe invention consists in mounting` the cutting tool so that it may be instantly moved to the desired position for cutting.

Heretofore the cutting tool has been so mounted as to require c'oi'i'siderable attention to adjust it to the proper position.

In the present instance the tool is preferably L shaped, as seen in Figure 4, and is secured to a block 36 by means of screws 3T.

The said block 36 has a runnin; r fit in the guideway 38 formed in the member 19 and has an upwardly.extending finger piece 39 to vaid in sliding it in the desired direction.

It will be understood that normally the screws 37 are set up' just enough to retain the tool and bloc'k in working condition and permit freedom of movement longitudinally of the member19, but if need be, they may be set up to friction'a'lly hold' said tool and block in. a nii-'en position.

Another feature the inventirm consists in the ar rangement of the cutting`-4 tool, which enables a clean cut to bemade close up' to the inner surface of the wall of the can at which location a cleaner cut can be madeI than at any other' part of the can top nea-'rer the center.

Toaccomplish this, the. cutting tool 3'1 will preferably be set as indicated in Figure G wherein the dotted line A represents the inedian l'ine of thel member 19.

Assuming' that the direction of cutting movement is indicated.y by the arrow, the

. of the eut Was made inside therefrom.

By this arrangement, the objectionable ragged and burred cut usually obtainethis greatly eliminated, as the passage ofthe .tool tends to1 and in fact does, to great extent, press the cut edge of the attached top snugly against the inner surface of the Wall of the can thus greatly *facilitating in the subsequent pouringr of the Contents therefrom, as Well as reducing the danger of' cutting the .fingers While handling the can.

Having described the invention I claim:

1. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a frame vertically movable in said support; a nonrotatable table adapted to move vertically in said support and adapted to receive a can thereon through which movement is imparted to said table by said frame; means to center a can on said table upon vertical movement of said table; said means also normally retaining said table yieldingly in raised position; and means carried by said frame adapted to effeet an opening in a can.

2. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a frame vertically movable in said support; a nonrotatable table vertically movable in said support and adapted to be moved by said frame through the medium of a can placed on said table; means carried by said frame adapted to effect an opening in a can placed on said table; and means controlled by downward movement of said table and adapted to clamp a can thereon against rotary movement during the opening of a can.

3. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a frame vertically movable in said support and adapted to cause movement to a table when a can is mounted thereon; a cutting tool mounted on said frame and rotatable relatively thereto; a nonrotatable table carried by said support and vertically movable relatively thereto and adapted to receive a can; and means under the control of said table to centrally position a can placed thereon and thereafter clamp said can against rotary movement during: the operation of said cutting tool.

4.. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a yoke shaped frame slidable in said support: a nonrotatable table yieldingly mounted in said support; means coacting with said table to first posit-ion and then clamp a can on said table; and a rotatable cutting tool mounted on said frame adapted to effect an opening in a can.

A can opening machine' comprising a stationary support; a yoke shaped frame slidable in said support and adapted to be held in elevated position by locking means for said frame: a nonrotatable table yield- ,ingly mounted in said support; means coacting with the movement of said tablev to first position and thenclamp a can thereon, a rotatable cutting tool. mounted on said frame` and adapted vto effect an opening in a can; and a lever adapted to actuate said cutting tool.

6. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a frame movable relatively `to said support said frame having means to lock-it in a given position; a nonrotatable table yieldingly mounted in said support and adapted to be moved relatively to said frame; clamp levers mounted on said support and adapted to coact With said table to first position and then clamp a can on said table; means to yieldingly retain said table and levers in normal position; a cutting tool mounted on said frame; and means to actuate said cutting tool.

7. A can opening machine comprising a stationary support; a frame movable relatively to said support consisting of two guide rods connected at their upper end by a yoke; a cutting tool carrier revolubly mounted in lsaid yoke; a lever adapted to actuate said carrier; meansv coacting with said rods to lock said frame in a given position; a cutting tool slidably mounted in said carrier; a nonrotatable table adapted to move relatively to and with said frame; means to position and clamp a can on said table; and vmeans to yieldingly support said table.

8. A can opening machine comprising a support; a nonrotatable table adapted to receivea can to be opened; means coacting With said table adapted to first center and then clamp a` can thereon, and means actuated by the vertical movement of said table for operating said centering' and clamping means, and means to effect an opening in a can.

9. A can opening machine comprising a support; a nonrotatable table mo'vably mounted in said support; a frame movably mounted in said support and movable relatively to said table and movable with said table; means carried by' said support and adapted to coact with said table to first center and then clamp a can against lateral movementon said table upon movement of said table, said means including clamp members: means to normally retain said clamp members in can receiving position; and means to effect an opening in a can. Y

10. A can opening machine comprising a support; a nonrotatable table adapted to receive a can and movably mounted in said support: a frame movably mounted in said support and movable Wit-h and relatively to said table: means carried by said frame adapted to clamp a can to said table; clamp members pivotally .mounted on said support and adapted to coact with said table to clamp a can thereon upon clamping move- In'ent of said rst clamping inea-ns; means tio normally reta-in' said c'lanp mernbers and Consequently said table in dan rece-vng postnn; and .means- O eet an' opening ina can.

l1. A can opening machine comprising asupp'oTt; a frame movable n ,said suppot; a table adapted t0 be guided by said rame and movable in said support; means calred l by said 'frameto clamp a can to said table;

ne'ans Carried by said support and coactflng with said table to further Clamp a can there? on; frcti'ona'l means on Salid table adapted to prevefnt feta-ry movement o'f a can dung the cutting operation; and means to effect an opening in a can.

l Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,` this 18th day of Janna-ry, 1923.

HENRY D. WASHBURN. 

